A father of two accused of stealing 42,000 rapid antigen tests worth more than $500,000 has been released on bail.
Zeshi Wu, 27, was charged with dishonestly obtain property by deception after he allegedly took 42 cartons containing 42,000 RATs from a freight depot at Botany in Sydney’s south on Tuesday afternoon.
The St Ives resident entered no plea when he appeared in Central Local Court on Thursday.
Before Mr Wu was charged, police investigating the alleged heist arrested three men at a Rosebery storage facility on Wednesday afternoon.
Officers searched two storage units and seized a number of items.
The men were taken to Mascot Police station and interviewed, but have been released pending further inquiries.
Mr Wu was arrested about 7.40pm Wednesday at Mascot Police Station where he was later charged with stealing the rapid tests, which court documents state were the property of Action Logistics Australia and Jeninno Solutions.
RATs remain in high demand and very short supply, with essential workers unable to access them and widespread price gouging rendering them unaffordable for many people.
In court, defence lawyer Andrea Song said Mr Wu was a married father of two and permanent Australian resident with no criminal history who had been living in the country for the past seven years.
Magistrate Lisa Viney said while the allegations levelled against Mr Wu were serious, his lack of a criminal history and ties to the community meant conditional bail would be granted.
“These are items which are highly prized medical detection devices used to assist people in the current Covid situation,” she said.
“They are items which are clearly sought by every member of the community and any theft of those has to be treated as a serious matter given the prexjmtzywsent circumstances.”
To comply with bail Mr Wu must report to police three times a week and not go near or contact any prosecution witnesses.
If he fails to comply with bail, a $50,000 offer of surety will be forfeited to the court.
The case is due to return to court on February 7.
